Marriage contract no. 288: Preußen - Hessen-Kassel

Contract content

1 – The contracting parties and the persons negotiating the marriage are named; subject matter of the contract

2 – Marriage vows of the groom

3 – Dowry of 30,000 guilders (19,999 talers)

4 – Trousseau regulated

5 – Renunciation of inheritance by the bride in the presence of male heirs; inheritance from wills excluded

6 – mornig gift of 4,000 talers; assured by letter; interest possible

7 – 6,000 talers annual allowance

8 – Composition and remuneration of the court regulated

9 – Donatio propter nuptias of 20,000 talers; life estate of 8,000 talers; widow’s dower and rights of use thereof are specified

10 – Provisions regarding the widow’s residence; Rheinsberg Castle; inventory to be recorded upon moving in

11 – Moving into the widow’s residence regulated; may be delayed for up to six months; furnishing of the residence supported with 4,000 talers

12 – Use and delivery of natural produce in relation to the widow’s dower

13 – Costs of maintaining the buildings belonging to the dower are regulated

14 – Bride dies before groom without joint heirs currently living: right of use of the groom; dowry to Hesse; dower as pledge

15 – Inheritance regulated in the event that joint heirs survive one of the two marriage partners

16 – Bride survives groom: widow receives unrestricted right to the dower; she may use the trousseau

17 – Remarriage of the widow regulated: use of dowry and donation propter nuptias; inventory of the widow’s residence; inheritance in the case of further children from a further marriage

18 – Personal debts of husband or wife do not affect the other

19 – Husband or wife dies after consummation of the marriage but before transfer of the dowry: contract is valid and everything must be performed accordingly

20 – If husband or wife dies before consummation of the marriage, the contract is void

21 – Gifts by testament, codicil, or donationes mortis causa are permitted if they do not violate the house contracts

22 – Mutual promise to abide by the contract, preparation of two identical marriage letters, which must be signed and sealed; date, place, signatures, and seals

Regulations on inheritance law

Renunciation of inheritance by the bride in the presence of male heirs; inheritance from wills excluded

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

22 – Signatures and seals

References

• Archive copy: GStA PK BHP, Rep. 56, II
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 288. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/288.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 288},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/288.html}
}